[You may wish to read Part I first.] Self-compassion A few weeks ago, a friend wrote: "I find it so hard to let the past be the past. It can churn away at my heart." I wondered what he meant but we didn't have a chance to talk about it. I sent him a piece … Continue reading A few thoughts on how to release regret and learn to live (II)
A few thoughts on how to release regret and learn to live (I)
Change There are places I'll remember All my life, though some have changed Some forever, not for better Some have gone and some remain All these places have their moments With lovers and friends I still can recall Some are dead and some are living In my life, I've loved them all But of all … Continue reading A few thoughts on how to release regret and learn to live (I)
Morning Prayer, flying over the sea to Málaga
O Lord, open our lips; and our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Visit us with your salvation and sustain us with your gracious spirit. That shift in consciousness from "me me me" – selfish, self-obsessed, held tight, defensive – to "I and You" – relaxed, open, other-concerned. I am ok. I am safe. There's nothing … Continue reading Morning Prayer, flying over the sea to Málaga
Oh no you don’t!
You say you are lazy, but you're not. You go to work. You get lots done. You check you emails, update your FaceBook page and your Twitter account. You surf the Net looking up things of interest to you. You spend hours researching and cooking nice meals. If you want to do it, you do … Continue reading Oh no you don’t!
What is the sensation of prayer? 10 steps to knowing God
How can you draw close to God when you are far from your own self? Grant, Lord, that I may know myself, that I may know thee.Augustine There is no deep knowing of God without a deep knowing of the self and no deep knowing of self without a deep knowing of God.Calvin, Institutes of … Continue reading What is the sensation of prayer? 10 steps to knowing God
Evanescence (IV)
4. Prayer on retreat, July 2014 [Read parts I, II & III] Here I am again, looking for something exciting on the iPhone, doing everything I can to avoid prayer. It is addiction: anything to stop me coming home to myself, and the work of coming home to You. What am I doing? I am … Continue reading Evanescence (IV)
Siddhartha and Govinda
Quoth Siddhartha: "What should I possibly have to tell you, oh venerable one? Perhaps that you're searching far too much? That in all that searching, you don't find the time for finding?" "How come?" asked Govinda. "When someone is searching," said Siddhartha, "then it might easily happen that the only thing his eyes still see … Continue reading Siddhartha and Govinda
Evanescence (III)
3. St Anthony's Pool [Read parts I and II] It is early morning, Summer 1991, the gardens of a college-turned-retreat house on the western edge of London. The Heathrow-bound air-traffic screams deafeningly low overhead, heading for touch-down. I am praying beside a goldfish pond. I know that if I am still and patient the fish … Continue reading Evanescence (III)
Lear and Eurydice
Who is it that can tell me who I am?' King Lear's baffled and angry cry comes as he begins to recognise that what has hitherto 'told' him who he was – the attitudes of those around him, the visible trappings of power – has vanished. We rely on all sorts of things to tell … Continue reading Lear and Eurydice
Morning Prayer
There is always the feeling that I must get somewhere and achieve something or work something out. This is completely habitual. But really, prayer is nothing more than opening my heart to You. It is back to de Caussade and The Cloud. It is repeatedly remembering to relax back into Your presence; and then I … Continue reading Morning Prayer